2012 Toi by-election

A by-election was held in the village of Toi, in Niue, on 31 March 2012. A general election was held in Niue on 7 May 2011. The island of Niue is one of the smallest self-governing nations in the world; it has an approximate population of 1,400, and a national Assembly of twenty members. Six of those are elected on an island-wide roll, while the other fourteen are elected from single-member village constituencies. There are no political parties. The electoral system in the constituencies is the first past the post system. In the 2011 election, eighteen voters cast a ballot for the constituency seat of Toi; incumbent candidate Dion Taufitu was reelected with an absolute majority of votes (11 votes; 61.1%)."Four New Members In Assembly", Pacific Alliance of Development Journalists, 8 May 2011"Preliminary Results Niue Election 2011" https://web.archive.org/web/20110625104009/http://www.niuenews1.com/preliminary-results-niue-election/2373/ 2011-06-25 , Niue News One, 8 May 2011 When the newly elected Assembly convened for members to take the oath of office, however, Taufitu was ill in Auckland. Assembly Speaker Ahohiva Levi travelled to Auckland and administered the oath to him there. Former Secretary for Justice and Common Roll Member of Parliament Togia Sioneholo challenged the validity of this procedure, arguing that an oath of office was only valid, under the Westminster system, if taken in public. The High Court, in early March 2012, ruled that the oath had not been administered properly, and found that Taufitu was therefore no longer legally the MP for Toi, precipitating a by-election.https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/203067/niue-by-election-after-oath-declared-void Niue by-election after oath declared void RNZ 7 March 2012 5 May 2023 Candidates and result There were two candidates: the incumbent Dion Taufitu, and Mokaelalini Vaha. Taufitu was reelected with eleven votes to six; there was one invalid vote.Niue TV broadcast, 3 April 2012 He was then sworn in successfully.https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/203762/taufitu-takes-niue-seat-after-successful-swearing-in Taufitu takes Niue seat after successful swearing-in RNZ 9 April 2012 5 May 2023 Dion Taufitu Independent 11 +3.60 Mokaelalini Vaha Independent 6 New 5 29.42 –9.40 Dion Taufitu hold Independent 2011 result Dion Taufitu Independent 11 Hamouli Kaulima Independent 4 Lilivaka Muimatagi Independent 3 7 38.89 Dion Taufitu hold Independent References Category:2012 elections in Oceania Category:2012 in Niue Category:By-elections to the Niue Assembly Category:March 2012 in Oceania Category:Non-partisan elections Category:Politics of Niue